Page 28 of Miles

“We got rid of him,” I reminded him, though I knew as well as he that it didn’t matter.

Antonio was suspicious. Men like him had to be, didn’t they? Or else they might end up dead. And he didn’t like us, which was another reason for him to pay attention to our doings. He sensed the threat from us as we sensed it from him. He was an animal, too, if not in the literal sense. A creature who survived on instinct.

“Do you think he’ll return?” It was clear from the way he gritted his teeth that Tamhas was ready for a fight. Always a hotheaded one.

“There’s no telling,” Klaus decided, “but we’ll keep a watch for him, nonetheless. It would be wise to keep two sentries on-duty at each entrance. I’m sure Mary would agree.”

“She would.” The woman herself strode toward us, suddenly looking older than she had only an hour earlier. We had brought the devil to her door—or, rather, I had. “I had no idea we were dealing with him, too. She said nothing about him?”

I shook my head. “I didn’t exactly get much of a chance to ask questions before he showed up. But I will now, you can bet.”

“Do, please.” She held out her hand, and Gate handed her Antonio’s card without being told to. She had that sort of command. “I’ll see what I can find on him.”

And I’d do the same. I went back to Savannah with a resolve I hadn’t felt before. Because after meeting him, it was serious. It was real. He wasn’t a photo of a man or stories of who’d died as a result of his violent temper. He was flesh and blood, and he thought she belonged to him.

He was wrong about that.

I took a deep breath and willed the dragon to quiet down as I approached the room. I’d only overwhelm her if I let him take control. She’d had enough of men like Antonio. If I pushed too hard, I’d only push her away. I reminded myself of this as I reached her door

It was open.

The bed was empty.

She was gone.

My shoes slapped on the floor as I ran to the game room, hoping against hope she’d be in there with the girls.

She wasn’t. None of them were. Maybe they had taken her to their rooms, which sat on the other side of the building.

Gate caught up with me. “What is it?”

“She’s not in her room.”

“Shit.” He ran to Mary’s office while I continued down the corridor, my heart racing as I sprinted through otherwise empty passageways.

Images flashed through my mind as I ran. Had someone snuck in somehow and taken her? Had she tried to run away and gotten herself caught? Anything could’ve happened, especially after Mary had left her office and, therefore, the security feed. I should’ve stayed with her. I should’ve protected her. I had failed.

“Have you seen her?” I barked after nearly colliding with Leslie.

“What? No. What’s wrong?” She ran after me, but I didn’t bother explaining.

I didn’t have anything to explain. All I knew was Savannah was missing, and it was my fault because I should’ve guarded her room. I should’ve known better than to trust anyone else with her.

Leslie sprinted to Ainsley and Isla as we passed them, and all three ran off in search of our missing guest.

I burst outside, looking in all directions as one after another grisly situation played out in my mind.

What would he do to her? What would he make her do?

The dragon raged and thrashed and demanded vengeance even without knowing for certain what had transpired. I was tempted to let him loose, because I couldn’t stand the strain as a thinking, rational man.

“Miles!” It was Ainsley, coming back from the beach. She was pointing, jumping up and down.

I flew down the path and found the wheelchair sitting on its side, with Ainsley scanning the water.

“Where the hell did she go?” I shouted, hands on top of my head.

“There!” She pointed to what looked like nothing but a speck on the water, far out.

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